Hologram Bonsai reinterprets Japan's centuries old bonsai tradition through hologram technology, offering the beauty of bonsai without the watering, pruning, or import restrictions that have long made it difficult to enjoy outside Japan.
The display requires no water or soil and never withers, simply switching on to reveal a bonsai rendered in light. Its footage is updatable via microSD card, with pine and cherry blossom currently available and more variations planned. A 360 degree rotating loop and a black acrylic case, refined through repeated prototyping to stay clear of glare and reflection, make it equally suited to a home shelf or a hotel lobby.
Two Years of Craft, Frame by Frame
Each Hologram Bonsai begins as a hand drawn sketch before becoming detailed 3DCG footage, refined through repeated testing on the actual display to perfect its brightness, reflection, and sense of depth.
Three Effects, One Living Bonsai
The looping footage moves through a blooming effect, a gentle swaying motion, and a fading effect, echoing the passage of the seasons and giving the piece a quiet sense of life.
